Is Hamas Back?

---

“We don’t want Hamas to rule, and we don’t want to hear the word resistance.” This phrase encapsulates the sentiment of many residents in the Gaza Strip as they pick up the pieces amidst the rubble.

• Hamas discusses Gaza ceasefire in Cairo

• Hamas Forced to Accept Any Ceasefire Offer as Options Dwindle

These were the words of Maha, who was displaced from Gaza City to the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, in an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times. She was commenting on the appearance of Hamas fighters in the streets after the ceasefire came into effect.

In an analysis titled “Is Hamas Back?”, the newspaper addressed the scene where dozens of Hamas fighters, clad in black masks and green headbands, emerged during the ceasefire last Sunday to hand over three hostages to vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported them to Israel.

• Under a Tight Siege, Israel Expands Its Attack in Northern Gaza amid Reports of Hamas Activity

• Hamas Rejects Short Ceasefire

The newspaper noted that images of Hamas fighters shocked the Israeli public and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the intense military campaign conducted against Gaza.

Hamas and the Strategy of Masking Losses

While some Israeli analysts warned that the parade of masked fighters was merely a public relations stunt to conceal Hamas‘ heavy losses, others saw it as evidence of a lack of strategic planning by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“Gaza has been destroyed, but Hamas is still standing,” said Avi Issacharoff, an Israeli analyst specializing in Middle Eastern affairs and co-creator of the television series Fauda.

• How Will Hamas Continue to Fight in Gaza After Losing Its Leaders? Expert Answers

• Israel Accuses 6 Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza of Belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad

“The reason for this is the Israeli government’s lack of interest in discussing any alternative governance system in Gaza,” Issacharoff added.

The Israeli war on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 47,000 Palestinians, reducing vast areas of the territory to an uninhabitable wasteland.

On the other hand, Hamas has suffered devastating losses and has been left weakened. Many of its senior leaders, including its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, along with thousands of fighters, were killed.

• The Killing of Sinwar returns power to Hamas Leaders Abroad

• Sinwar and the hostages… The revelation of a “safe exit deal” for Hamas leaders from Gaza

Has Hamas Replenished Its Losses?

However, international officials warn that the brutality of the Israeli campaign and the suffering of civilians may have drawn new members to the movement. Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that the U.S. believes Hamas has recruited a number of fighters nearly equal to those it lost.

According to Financial Times, many Gaza residents are deeply resentful of Hamas, believing that the October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war and contributed to the devastation.

Regarding the sight of Hamas fighters on armed vehicles after the ceasefire took effect, Maha, a displaced resident of Gaza, described it as a “provocative scene.”

She said: “We don’t want them to rule, and we don’t want to hear the word resistance.”

• “Al-Mawasi Raids”: Israel Targets 3 Hamas Officials

• After new demands from Hamas and Israel’s intransigence… have the Gaza truce negotiations stalled?

• Washington Accuses Hamas Leaders of Terrorism, Including Sinwar